Just a question for anyone familiar with java - is it easy to learn on your own? I have a pretty strong understanding of C++ and visual basic. I am considering teaching myself java because I cannot take a class for it. I have heard it is almost the same as C++ so it may be easy to teach myself if I follow some online tutorials.
also - to get started should I be using NetBeans IDE?
It shouldn’t be a problem if you’re comfortable with C++. Go for it!
Why Java? I feel as though it is a quickly dying language. You can do some great things with it, but as far as web usage it has slowly faded to a back burner.
Not sure about that. I use it all the time in web design. It’s pretty similar to Visual Basic so it should be too far off what you already know.
See, I don’t understand why you would want to use it on webpages. It only works properly some of the time. Using PHP and ajax you can cover so much of what java can do, then throw in some flash and java is all but tanked except for specialty web based executable applications and terminal emulators.
usually the Java I use is minimal. Used for checking people’s flash requirements, Image Rollovers, and such.
Used it on my buddies movie website http://www.20xxmovie.com/
A lot of companies require or encourage some java experience. Just looking at the job market. Also, say I wanted to be a java developer.
Every language has a place for it. Java does not belong on the web IMO. It works very nice for server applications over a LAN or desktop software development but if you are doing a website, learn new technologies like Rails, AJAX application development, and other web scripting languages on top of graphical design.
Java != Javascript … which is what you are decscribing, yes client side Java is cumbersome and not really mainstream much there are some popular apps that utilize it.
However server side Java is not going anywhere. So many enterprise products use it. Websphere, Weblogic, jBoss there are so many to name.
It is a invaluable language for any programmer to have under his/her belt.
java is a lot easier compared to c++ IMO but you have more control over things in c++ than you do java
Is it another language you can fake your way through with a couple years of c++ under your belt and very strong logic skills?
Java dying? Definitely not. Especially with cross platform apps become a huge need.
It is easy to learn if you have an OO background.